The Nesika Sporter’s bolt handle is longer than normal and doesn’t hug the stock to the degree than many actions do, providing more cocking leverage and making it easier to get off a rapid follow-up shot from the shoulder. Shown with a Leupold 4.5-14X VX-3.

The bolt’s spiral fluting not only looks great, but it is also truly functional in that it reduces the frictional surface area, while the grooves collect any foreign matter and keep it off of bearing surfaces.

Precision at its finest! To kill lateral play between the bolt and receiver, subtle “Borden Bumps” are machined into the bolt body directly behind the locking lugs.

In lockstep with a classic action, the footprint of the Nesika Sporter is virtually identical to that of the Remington 700, including the commonality of triggers and bottom metal units.

The composite Bell & Carlson Medalist stock, with its full-length aluminum bedding system and Pachmayr Decelerator recoil pad, lends a clean and classic look to the Nesika Sporter.

The Nesika Sporter I was sent for testing came chambered in .308 Winchester. Out of the box, it weighed 8 pounds unloaded with a Remington-contour, 24-inch, match-grade Douglas barrel that measures 0.655 inches at the muzzle. My initial impression was that this is one beautifully machined and finished rifle. The matte stainless finish on the barreled action and on the hinged, all-steel bottom metal unit was perfectly uniform and superbly done. The same goes for the laid-up composite stock; it’s the Bell & Carlson Medalist model with an integral aluminum bedding block a la H-S Precision. The style is strictly neo-classic with a high, straight comb that’s parallel with the bore line, a cheekpiece and molded-in checkering panels done in a classic point pattern. Sling swivel studs and a Pachmayr Decelerator recoil pad are standard.

Those differences I spoke of between the Remington 700 and this action are found inside the receiver and on the bolt. First off, the two massive locking lugs at the head of the bolt are almost 0.13 inches longer than those on the 700, meaning that the combined shear surface is about 20 percent greater. If there’s a twin-lug action with greater shear surface than this one, I don’t know who makes it.

However, unlike the Model 700, which sports two locking lugs that are identical to one another, the face of the right-side locking lug on this action hosts an extractor that slides radially within a T-slot, so its shear surface is slightly less than that of the opposing lug. This difference is strictly technical minutia and of no practical concern whats­oever. Spent cases are ejected by the familiar plunger-type button in the lower-left quadrant of the bolt face.

“The rear of the bolt is finished with a nicely shaped shroud that is wide enough to block the lug raceways so that any particle-bearing gases from a pierced primer or case head separation won’t reach the shooter’s face.”

Other interesting features about this and the other three Nesika actions is that all have “Borden Bumps” machined into the bolt body directly behind the locking lugs. Named after its inventor, Jim Borden, an accomplished engineer, machinist and benchrest shooter, the bumps, which cannot actually be seen because they are so subtle, reduce the lateral play between the bolt and receiver to 0.001 inches or less when in battery. It is a feature that has since been adopted by several other gunsmiths specializing in building actions and/or complete rifles for competition. The best way I can describe it is that the bolt body diameter is actually eccentric when measured directly behind the locking lugs. Behind the lugs, i.e., across the Borden Bumps, the bolt body measures exactly 0.7 inches, but if you turn the bolt 90 degrees, it measures 0.69 inches.

The receiver is machined from 15-5 stainless steel, and the one-piece bolt, with its integral handle, is made of 4340 chrome-moly. The latter can be ordered with spiral or straight flutes, or none at all. The bolt’s grasping ball is a separate component that’s threaded onto the handle. I especially like the fact that the handle is longer than that of most actions, and that it juts out farther from the side of the stock. Not only does this provide extra leverage on the opening stroke—a real plus when you’ve got a sticky case and you’re trying to cycle the bolt with the rifle shouldered—but it makes finding the handle that much easier. Some rifles have the bolt handle hugging the stock too closely and can be missed with the upsweep of the hand when trying to get off a rapid follow-up shot.

The rear of the bolt is finished with a nicely shaped shroud that is wide enough to block the lug raceways so that any particle-bearing gases from a pierced primer or case head separation won’t reach the shooter’s face. The firing pin tail has a rearward extension that juts out from beneath the shroud, indicating the action is cocked; otherwise, it can’t be seen or felt.

The all-steel bottom metal unit is a thing of beauty. The floorplate is of the straddle variety, with the release lever inside the triggerguard bow. The magazine follower is also made of steel. As previously noted, the trigger is interchangeable with that of the Remington 700, but this one is made by Timney, so nothing more need be said as to its quality. The two-position, side-mounted safety does not lock the bolt, so when engaged, live rounds can be loaded and unloaded in safety. Unlike the Model 700, however, this action does not have the bolt release in the ceiling of the triggerguard bow; rather, it’s a pivoting lever housed in the conventional location on the left side of the receiver bridge. Depressing the rear end of the lever pivots the front end out of the raceway, allowing the bolt to be removed.

Get locked and loaded for big game near and far with the CZ 557 Sporter and FTW Ranch’s training!

Load Comments

Carl McCants

Very disappointed I’m my Nesika. I bought this rifle in 300 Win Mag. The first one that came to the shop had rust spots all over the barrel. The shop sent it back. A month later, I received another rifle. This was not an easy month. It was almost daily on the phone with Nesika debating what needed to be done. I should have learned then, but no, I’m hard headed and had to have the Nesika.

Well, I finally got another rifle from them. The target that they sent with the gun was not MOA. Remember, the guarantee MOA. I called about this and emailed, guess what?, they never returned my calls or emails.

So ,ok, I’m stuck with a $4000.00 gun that will not shoot straight. Bummer.

I ran hundreds of loads through it and could not get it to print even as good as the supplied target. I tried calling, not a peep, I tried emailing, not a peep. I guess the guarantee is that they guarantee they will not respond to you if you have a problem.

Finally I took it to a gun smith and long range shooter. He could not get it to shoot MOA either. His recommendation was a new barrel. So I sink another $800.00 into this rifle. Well it shoots great now. Turns out the Douglas barrels they use are crap.